Weekend Wakeup: Warm weather, parade rehearsals to slow down drivers

WASHINGTON – Soaring temperatures will coax many people onto the roads this weekend. Luckily, a light work zone docket will keep most weekenders moving speedily on routes around town.

With the reprieve from winter-like temperatures likely bringing some residents out of hibernation, Metro cautions for delays on portions of the Red, Blue and Green lines.

Preparations for the Presidential Inauguration will be underway this weekend near the National Mall. Be prepared for street closures and parking restrictions between the Capitol and Federal Triangle Sunday morning for the Inaugural Parade dress rehearsal.

Metrorail Track Work

Early Sunday afternoon, participants of The No Pants Subway Ride 2013 will be riding the Metrorail system pants free, traveling between Metro Center, Chinatown, and L’Enfant Metro Stations.

Track work will affect riders on the Red, Blue and Green lines this weekend. There is no work scheduled for the Orange and Yellow lines.

Blue Line tracks will be out-of-service between Pentagon and Rosslyn. The Arlington Cemetery station will be closed. A free shuttle bus will ferry customers between Pentagon and Rosslyn, with an intermediate stop at Arlington Cemetery. The detour will require about 20 minutes of additional travel time. Passengers traveling between Virginia and Washington who are not headed to Arlington Cemetery should consider using the Yellow Line between L’Enfant Plaza and the Pentagon.

Buses replace trains between the Rosslyn and Pentagon stations

Arlington Cemetary station closed

Passengers on bus detour should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time

No delays expected on Blue Line outside the work zone

The Red Line will single track in two segments: between Friendship Heights and Van Ness and between Rhode Island Avenue and Fort Totten. Trains on the Red Line will operate every 24 minutes but Metro will run supplemental trains through the city during the daytime hours, boosting service to an average of 12-minute- intervals between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Single tracking between Friendship Heights and Van Ness

Single tracking between Rhode Island Avenue and Fort Totten

Allow 15 minutes of additional travel time

The train testing continues on the Green Line between College Park and Greenbelt.

On Sunday, every other train will stop at College Park, rather than Greenbelt from mid-morning until early evening

Green Line trains will run on a normal schedule between College Park and Branch Avenue

Allow about 10 minutes of additional travel time

Inaugural Practice Parade

Instead of battling the inaugural crowds next week, some parade-goers will gravitate to the practice run Sunday morning. Do not expect to be able to park in close proximity to the rehearsal. Street closures and parking restrictions will go into effect on and near the parade route as early as 5:00 a.m. The activity is expected to last until 1:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Street Closures

Constitution Avenue from 1st Street NE to 6th Street NW

Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street NW to 15th Street NW

Pennsylvania Avenue from 17th Street NW to 19th Street NW

15th Street from I Street NW south to Independence Avenue SW

Parking Restrictions

Constitution Avenue from 1st Street NE to 6th Street NW

Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd Street NW to 15th Street NW

Pennsylvania Avenue from 17th Street NW to 19th Street NW

15th Street from I Street NW south to Independence Avenue SW

Other Events

Howard University will host the centennial celebration of Delta Sigma Theta. An estimated 12,000 Deltas are expected to flock to Howard University. Although there are no street closures associated with the various planned activities, traffic on Georgia and Florida avenues may be heavier than usual at times throughout the weekend.

Road Construction

Late Sunday night, all lanes on the outer loop of the Capital Beltway are scheduled to be blocked in Virginia at Route 50/Arlington Boulevard for repair work. Traffic south of I-66 will be directed onto the Route 50 service road to bypass the work zone.